Dispute Resolution | Europe

The firm boasts comprehensive coverage of key European markets and excellent teams in the UK, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. The law firm is especially renowned for its track record in the banking litigation and regulatory spaces, acting for an impressive roster of multinational financial institutions, as well as clients from the energy and aerospace sectors. It also represents major European corporates and global companies in a vast range of cross-border contractual and commercial disputes, antitrust cases and prominent international arbitration cases. The team has further experience defending clients against class actions. On 1st May 2024, Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling merged to form A&O Shearman.

Clifford Chance has a market-leading practice which draws on an expansive geographic footprint to coordinate complex, pan-European disputes. It boasts numerous excellent teams across Europe, including in the UK, France, Germany, Spain and Poland. The law firm is a top choice for financial disputes, including high-value insolvency disputes, as well as fraud-related litigation and M&A disputes. Clifford Chance additionally advises on antitrust and shareholder disputes. It is also adept at advising international banks on multi-jurisdictional court proceedings and engaging with regulatory authorities across borders.

Top-ranked firm Freshfields boasts leading litigation teams in London, Germany and Austria. Clients further benefit from the firm's wider European presence, with reputable practices in France, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands. The law firm is highly sought after for big-ticket banking litigation, benefiting from an exceptional contentious regulatory team as well as a strong financial services practice. Its scope of expertise also covers major corporate investigations, offering an established group of cartel and antitrust experts. Freshfields also handles mass litigation on a multi-jurisdictional scale. Clients include leading financial institutions, as well as manufacturing, automotive and energy companies.

Herbert Smith Freehills comprehensively covers key European markets, offering a first-rate litigation department in London alongside reputable teams in France, Spain and Germany. The law firm offers standout expertise in advising European banks as well as energy and construction companies on contentious matters. The firm's lawyers are well versed across a host of contentious areas, including regulatory investigations, class actions and white-collar crime. The litigation practice is complemented by strong international arbitration and IP practices.

Hogan Lovells is highly recommended for its handling of large-scale commercial litigation for European companies, with reputable teams in the UK, Spain and Germany. It also maintains an active presence across Europe with noted expertise in Italy and France. The firm is active across all types of commercial cases, including post-acquisition disputes. It offers particular experience in enforcement proceedings, product liability and class action lawsuits. It is further renowned for its work in regulated industries, occupying a market-leading position in the life sciences sector and frequently handling cases involving financial and automotive industries. Hogan Lovells offers further expertise relating to complex, cross-border energy disputes.

Linklaters is highly regarded for cross-border banking litigation, frequently advising on financial disputes across its well-reputed offices in Germany, Spain, Belgium, the UK and France. The firm demonstrates expertise in shareholder disputes arising from M&A transactions and liability cases. Linklaters' clients include international blue-chip financial institutions, energy corporations and telecoms giants.

Baker McKenzie has a robust dispute resolution practice with experts on the ground in numerous European jurisdictions, including the UK, Austria, Germany and Spain. Prominent in insolvency and banking litigation, the firm often assists with disputes relating to loans and financial fraud, including acting on pan-European enforcement proceedings. Baker McKenzie also offers impressive capabilities in cross-border construction disputes relating to contractual terms and negligence. In addition to international financial institutions and energy companies, the firm also counts high net worth individuals among its clients.

CMS has a widespread European presence, with strength in Germany, the UK and much of the CEE region. It handles a range of commercial litigation, including construction, cross-border insurance and post-M&A disputes. Class action lawsuits, product liability cases and damages claims are further areas of experience. CMS is active for a range of clients, including high-profile internationals in the financial, energy and technology sectors.

Cleary Gottlieb has a reputable disputes team spread across the firm's offices in London, France and Italy. It is highly active in cross-border competition litigation, including abuse of dominance and cartel investigations. The firm also offers a well-reputed financial and banking disputes practice, active on regulatory investigations and enforcement issues, and acts for high-profile clients on complex investment disputes. Cleary Gottlieb frequently acts for sovereign states and listed multinationals in a range of industries, including the aviation, technology and financial sectors. Its litigation practice is complemented by a strong arbitration team housed in Paris.

Dentons offers expansive European coverage, with impressive strength in the CEE region, including notable branches in Poland, Romania and Italy. It is particularly strong in commercial litigation, frequently handling cases relating to construction, real estate and energy. Dentons further represents clients from the financial services sector in regulatory and fraud investigations, as well as advising on corporate conflicts and multi-jurisdictional enforcement proceedings.

DLA Piper maintains reputable teams across Europe, with a strong presence in Western Europe across the UK, Germany, France and Spain, as well as CEE. The law firm has particularly noteworthy expertise in cross-border regulatory investigations, advising on contentious issues regarding funds, fraud and insurance. It has additional expertise in multi-jurisdictional enforcement proceedings and insolvency-related matters. DLA Piper's client portfolio primarily consists of international financial institutions and listed multinationals.

Latham & Watkins has strong international capabilities in contentious matters, with a reputable litigation and arbitration group in London. It also has a well-reputed team in Germany that regularly advises on complex cross-border disputes. The firm is highly active in antitrust matters and follow-on litigation, including class actions, as well as regulatory disputes. Latham & Watkins also acts on shareholder disputes and contentious IP mandates.

White & Case has an established presence across Europe, with a particularly reputable offering in the CEE region. The firm has further notable branches in France, Germany and London. It is often instructed on disputes arising from financial transactions, restructurings and white-collar crime. White & Case also represents clients in contractual and insurance disputes.